Round IV: Frazier, GCC meet for fourth time with spot in PIAA final at stake
Frazier holds a 2-1 edge in its head-to-head meetings with Greensburg Central Catholic so far this girls volleyball season.
The one loss still haunts the Lady Commodores though.
After sweeping the Lady Centurions during the regular season to secure sole possession of the Section 4-A title, Frazier stunningly fell flat in a 3-0 loss to GCC in the WPIAL final.
Frazier regrouped and charged into the PIAA tournament, earning impressive wins at District 10 champion Saegertown, 3-2, and over District 9 champion Clarion, 3-0 at North Allegheny on Saturday, to reach the state final four.
There waiting for the Lady Commodores (17-4) again for a fourth meeting this season will be GCC (19-3).
The two play at 6 p.m. today at Norwin High School with a spot in the Class A state championship match on the line.
Frazier wouldn鈥檛 have it any other way as it seeks to wipe out the memory of the district final defeat that took place at Peters Township High School鈥檚 AHN Arena.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be a lot different this time,鈥� Frazier junior Maddie Salisbury said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited to play them again.鈥�
Frazier coach Mandy Hartman doesn鈥檛 foresee a repeat from the WPIAL final either.
鈥淲e were not happy with the way we played in the finals,鈥� Hartman said. 鈥淚t was not indicative of us. It was probably the worst we鈥檝e played all season. I don鈥檛 think these girls will do that again.鈥�
The Lady Commodores won the first match with the Lady Centurions in impressive fashion, rallying from a 2-0 deficit for a reverse sweep 3-2 win at Greensburg, and then also won 3-1 at Frazier in their second meeting before the disappointing third clash.
Hartman saw a silver lining in the WPIAL final defeat.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 even play well in the semifinals (3-1 win over St. Joseph) and I thought are we fizzling out,鈥� Hartman said. 鈥淏ut sometimes the best thing for a team is to lose. As much as it hurt to lose that WPIAL championship, you just don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 on the other side. If we would鈥檝e won it we might鈥檝e been complacent and very well could鈥檝e lost to Saegertown because they are really, really good.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e peaking at the right time. I think that loss in the WPIAL championship was probably a great lesson for them. They know that when you come out like that, bad things happen.鈥�
Greensburg Central Catholic has defeated Clarion Limestone, the second-place team out of District 9, 3-1, and swept District 6 champion West Branch, 3-0, to reach the semifinals.
The other PIAA semifinal pits District 1 champion Faith Christian (21-5) against District 3 champion Linville Hill (20-2).
The Class A state final is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg.